Over the past few months, I’ve noticed a new wave of scams targeting developers, especially those searching for remote jobs. I recently encountered two myself — and I want to share it here so that others don’t fall into the same trap.

The Setup

It starts the way most recruitment messages do:

“Our CTO was really impressed with your experience. We’d like to move forward with a short skills test before arranging the technical interview.”

So far, so normal. But then came the task:

• Clone a GitHub repo.
• Replace the existing MetaMask wallet integration with Coinbase or another Ethereum wallet.
• Connect your wallet and sign the message “Connected successfully” and show the signed hash in the browser console.
• Share a screenshot or short video as proof.

And after that? They give amazing promises..

Red Flags to Watch Out For

• Unprofessional communication.
• Random public repos.
• Wallet involvement.
• Urgency + flattery.

How to Protect Yourself

• Never use your real wallet for any coding assignment. If you absolutely must, set up a burner wallet with no funds.
• Inspect the repo carefully before running it. Look for hidden approval or transaction calls.
• Research the company. Check their website, LinkedIn presence, and whether employees actually exist. (sometimes they pretend they are from some well know company but they are not belong to it)
• Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

Final Thoughts

These scams are clever because they play on a developer’s eagerness to land a job. By disguising themselves as interview assignments, scammers hope to lure skilled professionals into exposing their wallets.

Remember:

A coding interview should test your brain, not your bank balance.